Precise beam forming based on user equipment location

ABSTRACT

Various arrangements are presented for optimizing data transmission between a satellite and a user equipment. A satellite gateway system may receive a message from the user equipment indicative of a current location of the user equipment. Data may be retrieved from the Internet to be transmitted to the user equipment via the satellite. The satellite gateway system may transmit a downlink message to the satellite that comprises the retrieved data and beam steering data. The beam steering data may instruct the satellite to target a downlink spot beam on the current location of the user equipment based on the message received from the user equipment. The retrieved data may be transmitted to the user equipment via the targeted downlink spot beam.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/987,108, filed Aug. 6, 2020, entitled “Precise Beam Forming Based OnUser Equipment Location,” which application is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/042,384, filed Jul. 23, 2018, entitled“Precise Beam Forming Based On User Equipment Location,” now U.S. patentSer. No. 10/763,954, issued Sep. 1, 2020. U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/042,384 is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/042,392, filed on Jul. 23, 2018, entitled “Dynamic Allocation OfSatellite Gateway Assignments.” The disclosures of the above-identifiedpatent applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety forall purposes.

BACKGROUND

A relay satellite may be used to relay data transmitted between one ormore satellite gateway systems and user equipment. Typically, relaysatellites transmit and receive using wide-area antenna signal beamswith user equipment distributed over large swaths of geography, such asregions over a hundred miles in diameter. Due to variances in signalstrength, user terminals located at or near a center of the suchwide-area beams may experience a relatively high signal strength thatallows for data to be transmitted and received with a relatively lowerror rate between the relay satellite and the user terminal. However,for user equipment positioned further from the center of the beam, alower signal strength will be experienced that allows for data to betransmitted and received at a slower speed or more coding due toincreased error correction being used to overcome the decreased signalstrength. An increased data throughput would be beneficial both to usersof user equipment (e.g., less delay in transmitting or receiving data)and to an operator of the satellite-based system by the relay satellitebeing able to accommodate more user terminals if less time is devoted tocommunicating with user terminals with which only lower data rates arepossible.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments are described related to a method for optimizingdata transmission between a satellite and a user equipment. In someembodiments, a method for optimizing data transmission between asatellite and a user equipment is described. The method may includereceiving, by a satellite gateway system, a message, from the userequipment indicative of a current location of the user equipment. Themethod may include retrieving, by the satellite gateway system, datafrom the Internet to be transmitted to the user equipment via thesatellite. The method may include transmitting, by the satellite gatewaysystem, a downlink message to the satellite that comprises the retrieveddata and beam steering data. The beam steering data may instruct thesatellite to target a spot beam on the current location of the userequipment based on the message received from the user equipment, suchthat the retrieved data may be transmitted to the user equipment via thetargeted downlink spot beam.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the followingfeatures: The beam-steering data instructing the satellite to target thedownlink spot beam on the current location of the user equipment mayinclude the downlink spot beam being centered on the current location ofthe user equipment. The beam-steering data instructing the satellite totarget the downlink spot beam on the current location of the userequipment may include the downlink spot beam being centered within apredefined distance on the current location of the user equipment. Themessage indicative of the current location of the user equipment mayinclude an account number linked with the user equipment. The messageindicative of the current location of the user equipment may include alatitude value and a longitude value. The method may include storing, bythe satellite, a lookup table that maps a plurality of spot beamidentifiers to a corresponding plurality of spot beam target locations.The beam steering data may include a spot beam identifier. The methodmay include performing, by the satellite, a lookup in the lookup tablebased on the beam steering data. The method may include performing, bythe satellite, a beam-forming process based on the lookup to target thedownlink spot beam to the user equipment based on the lookup. The methodmay include transmitting, by the satellite gateway system, a seconddownlink message to the satellite that comprises broadcast data to betransmitted to a plurality of instances of user equipment that comprisesthe user equipment. The second downlink message may be transmitted via adownlink wide area beam distributed over a larger geographical area thanthe downlink spot beam. The method may include receiving, by thesatellite gateway system via the satellite, during a first definedperiod of time, a request message from the user equipment requesting tosend an amount of data to the satellite gateway system via thesatellite. The request message may indicate the current location of theuser equipment. The method may include assigning, by the satellitegateway system, a time slot for the user equipment to transmit theamount of data to the satellite gateway system. The method may includetransmitting, by the satellite gateway system, a time slot assignmentmessage to the user equipment that indicates the time slot. The methodmay include causing, by the satellite gateway system, the satellite totarget up-stream focus for the time slot on the current location of theuser equipment. The method may include receiving, by the satellitegateway system via the satellite, data from the user equipmenttransmitted during the time slot. A beam width of the downlink spot beammay be sixty miles or less. A frequency of the downlink spot beam may be30 GHz or greater.

In some embodiments, a system optimizing data transmission is described.The system may include user equipment comprising a first satelliteantenna that transmits, to a satellite, a message indicative of acurrent location of the user equipment. The system may include asatellite gateway system comprising: a second satellite antenna thatcommunicates with the satellite. The satellite gateway system may beconfigured to receive the message from the satellite that is indicativeof the current location of the user equipment. The satellite gatewaysystem may be configured to retrieve data from the Internet to betransmitted to the user equipment via the satellite. The satellitegateway system may be configured to transmit a downlink message to thesatellite that comprises the retrieved data and beam steering data. Thebeam steering data may instruct the satellite to target a spot beam onthe current location of the user equipment based on the message receivedfrom the user equipment, such that the retrieved data may be transmittedto the user equipment via the targeted downlink spot beam.

Embodiments of such a system may include one or more of the followingfeatures: The system may include the satellite. The beam steering datainstructing the satellite to target the downlink spot beam on thecurrent location of the user equipment may include the satellitecentering the downlink spot beam on the current location of the userequipment. The beam steering data instructing the satellite to targetthe downlink spot beam on the current location of the user equipment mayinclude the downlink spot beam being centered within a predefineddistance on the current location of the user equipment. The messageindicative of the current location of the user equipment may include anaccount number linked with the user equipment. The message indicative ofthe current location of the user equipment may include a latitude valueand a longitude value. The system may further include the satellite. Thesatellite may be configured to store a lookup table that maps aplurality of spot beam identifiers to a corresponding plurality of spotbeam target locations. The beam steering data may include a spot beamidentifier. The satellite may be configured to perform a lookup in thelookup table based on the beam steering data. The satellite may beconfigured to perform a beam-forming process based on the lookup totarget the downlink spot beam to the user equipment based on the lookup.The satellite gateway system may be further configured to transmit asecond downlink message to the satellite that comprises broadcast datato be transmitted to a plurality of instances of user equipment thatcomprises the user equipment. The second downlink message may betransmitted via one or more downlink wide area beams distributed over alarger geographical area than the downlink spot beam. The satellitegateway system may be further configured to receive, via the satellite,during a first defined period of time, a request message from the userequipment requesting to send an amount of data to the satellite gatewaysystem via the satellite. The request message may indicate the currentlocation of the user equipment. The satellite gateway system may befurther configured to assign a time slot for the user equipment totransmit the amount of data to the satellite gateway system. Thesatellite gateway system may be further configured to transmit a timeslot assignment message to the user equipment that indicates the timeslot. The satellite gateway system may be further configured to causethe satellite to target up-stream focus for the time slot on the currentlocation of the user equipment. The satellite gateway system may befurther configured to receive, via the satellite, data from the userequipment transmitted during the time slot. A beam width of the downlinkspot beam may be sixty miles or less. A frequency of the downlink spotbeam may be 30 GHz or greater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of variousembodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. Inthe appended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a bidirectional satellitecommunication system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a satellite gateway system and relaysatellite.

FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of spot beams and a wide-area beambeing used to transmit and receive data via a satellite.

FIG. 3B illustrates another embodiment of spot beams and a wide-areabeam being used to transmit and receive data via a relay satellite.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of data packets and a data frame thatmay be used to transmit data via wide-area and spot beams to userequipment via a relay satellite.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of data packets and a data frame thatmay be used to receive and relay data via wide-area and spot beams fromuser equipment via a relay satellite to a satellite gateway.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method for optimizing datatransmission from a relay satellite to a user terminal.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a method for optimizing datatransmission to a relay satellite from a user terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The radiation pattern for an antenna can exhibit a high degree ofdirectionality based on the size of the antenna and the frequency atwhich the antenna is operating. The size of the antennas of relaysatellites may be increased as may the operating frequency in order toincrease the data throughput of the relay satellite and also thedirectionality of the relay satellite's one or more antennas. The higherthe directionality, the more focused the signal, resulting in moresignal gain in a smaller area. Conventionally, a relay satellite that isused to provide unidirectional or bidirectional communication with manyinstances of user equipment may have a wide-area antenna radiationpattern that covers a large swath of geography, such as over a hundredmiles in diameter. Within this geography, many user terminals may bepositioned. Since a large number of user terminals can be expected to bepresent within the wide-area beam, bandwidth usage across the userequipment may statistically average together to be roughly consistent orat least not experience significant short-term spikes or drop-offs. Thatis, while a first group of user equipment serviced by the wide-area beammay be receiving and/or transmitting a large amount of data, a secondgroup of user equipment may be receiving and/or transmitting little orno data. At another time, the user equipment part of the second groupmay be more active in transmitting and/or receiving data, while someterminals that are part of the first group may be less active.

If the antenna size and/or operating frequency of the one or morecommunication channels between the relay satellite and user terminalsare increased, the antenna radiation pattern of the relay satellite'santenna may exhibit greater directionality or focus. Therefore, a smallgeographic region at which the antenna is targeted may experience highgain, while untargeted geographic regions may experience a low gain.Such an antenna radiation pattern may be referred to as a spot beam. Aspot beam operating at a frequency of 30 GHz or greater (e.g., K_(a), Q,V, and higher frequency bands) may have a 3 dB beam-width of 60, 40, 20,or even fewer miles. That is, the diameter of the transmit or receivespot beam, as measured on the earth's surface, may have a distance ofbetween 20 to 60 miles between 3 dB decreases in signal strength ascompared to the center or approximate center of the beam as present onthe earth's surface.

Due to the highly directional antenna beam pattern, spot beams exhibit alarge signal strength roll-off over a relatively short distance.Therefore, if a user terminal is located near the 3 dB edge of the spotbeam, the user equipment may receive approximately only half as muchpower as user equipment located on the ground at or near the center ofthe spot beam. Similarly, a satellite may only provide half of the gainfor a signal received from the user terminal on the 3 dB edge versus auser terminal at the limits of the beam. The first instance of userequipment may need to perform a significant amount of error correctionthat effectively decreases the data bandwidth by a large percentage,such as 50%. Further, since the spot beam effectively covers such asmaller geographic region, the number of instances of user equipmentthat can effectively be serviced by the spot beam is reduced. Whilebandwidth usage may be statistically averaged to be roughly consistentover a large geographic area serviced using a wide-area antenna beampattern, the ability to average out bandwidth usage over a number ofinstances of user equipment within a smaller spot beam is reduced sincethe number of user terminals within the spot beam is fewer. Accordingly,unless additional measures are taken, a situation may arise in which asignificant amount of bandwidth of a spot beam may be wasted andultimately the capacity of the satellite may be reduced.

Embodiments detailed herein are focused on steering (also referred to asaiming or targeting) the antenna radiation patterns of the relaysatellite such that individual or small groups of user equipment locatedin close proximity to each other experience high gain. Based on whereuser equipment is located, a spot beam may be steered such that the userequipment is located at or near the center the spot beam. The userequipment may transmit data to the relay server and/or a gatewaysatellite system that indicates a location of the user equipment. Insome instances, such as if the user equipment may move (e.g., located onan airplane, unmanned aerial vehicle, boat, or vehicle), the userequipment may provide a precise location, such as in the form oflatitude and longitude coordinates. In some embodiments, locationinformation may be provided in the form of a user equipment identifieror account identifier that allows the satellite gateway system todetermine the location of the user equipment, such as by looking up anaddress or latitude and longitude coordinates in an account database.Regardless of whether the user terminal is in a stationary location(e.g., at a home, office, fixed field location, or other stationarystructure) or may move, the user equipment's location may be used to aimthe spot beam of the relay antenna directly at or nearly directly at theuser equipment when the user equipment is to receive data from ortransmit data to the relay satellite. By ensuring that the user terminalis located at or near the beam center (e.g., with a signal loss of lessthan 1-3 dB as compared to the beam center or within a predefineddistance of the beam center), the transmit and receive informationbandwidth between the user terminal and the satellite may be increased.

Further detail regarding these concepts is provided in relation to thefigures. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a bidirectional satellitecommunication system 100. Bidirectional satellite communication system100 may include: relay satellite 110; satellite gateway systems 120;bidirectional satellite communication links 130; private data source151; user communication components 160; satellite antennas 170; and userterminals 180. Relay satellite 110 may be a bidirectional communicationsatellite that relays communications between satellite gateway systems120 and user communication components 160. Therefore, via relaysatellite 110, data may be transmitted from satellite gateway systems120 to user communication components 160 and data may be transmittedfrom user communication components 160 to satellite gateway systems 120.In some embodiments, system 100 may be used to provide usercommunication components 160 with Internet access. Additionally oralternatively, system 100 may be used to provide user communicationcomponents 160 with access to private data source 151, which may be aprivate network, data source, or server system. Relay satellite 110 mayuse different frequencies for communication with satellite gatewaysystems 120 than for communication with user communication components160. Further, different frequencies may be used for uplink communication(from user equipment to relay satellite 110 and to a satellite gatewaysystem) than for downlink communication (from a satellite gateway systemto relay satellite 110 and to user equipment). Similarly, differentfrequencies may be used for communication from satellite gateway systems120 to relay satellite 110 than for communication from relay satellite110 to satellite gateway systems 120. Further detail regarding relaysatellite 110 is provided in reference to FIG. 2 .

Satellite gateway system 120-1 may be located at geographic location140-1. Satellite gateway system 120-1 may communicate with relaysatellite 110 using bidirectional satellite communication link 130-1,which can include one or more high-gain antennas that allow high datatransmission rates between satellite gateway system 120-1 and relaysatellite 110. Satellite gateway system 120-1 may receive data from andtransmit data to many instances of user equipment, such as usercommunication components 160. Satellite gateway system 120-1 may serveto encode data into a proper format for relay by relay satellite 110.Similarly, satellite gateway system 120-1 may serve to decode datareceived from various instances of user communication components 160received via relay satellite 110. Satellite gateway system 120-1 mayserve as an intermediary between the satellite communication system andother data sources, such as private data source 151 and Internet 152.Satellite gateway system 121 may serve to receive requests from usercommunication components 160 via relay satellite 110 for data accessibleusing Internet 152. Satellite gateway system 120-1 may retrieve suchdata from Internet 152 and transmit the retrieved data to the requestinginstance of user equipment via relay satellite 110. Additionally oralternatively, satellite gateway system 120-1 may receive requests fromuser communication components 160 via relay satellite 110 for dataaccessible in private data source 151. Satellite gateway system 120-1may retrieve such data from private data source 151 and transmit theretrieved data to the requesting instance of user equipment via relaysatellite 110. Further detail regarding a satellite gateway system, suchas satellite gateway system 120-1, is provided in relation to FIG. 2 .

Satellite gateway system 120-2 may function similarly to satellitegateway system 120-1, but may be located in a different physicallocation. While satellite gateway system 120-1 is located at geographiclocation 140-1, satellite gateway system 120-2 is located at geographiclocation 140-2. Co-located with satellite gateway system 120-2 may bebidirectional satellite communication link 130-2. Satellite gatewaysystem 120-2 and bidirectional satellite communication link 130-2 mayservice a first group of user equipment while satellite gateway system120-1 and bidirectional satellite communication link 130-1 may serviceanother set of user equipment. Geographic locations 140-1 and 140-2 maybe separated by a significant enough distance such that the samefrequencies can be used for uplink and downlink communications betweenbidirectional satellite communication links 130 and relay satellite 110without a significant amount of interference occurring. Satellitegateway system 120-2 and bidirectional satellite communication link130-2 may function similarly to satellite gateway system 120-1 andbidirectional satellite communication link 130-1 respectively. While twoinstances of satellite gateway systems 120 and bidirectional satellitecommunication links 130 are illustrated as part of system 100, it shouldbe understood that in some embodiments only a single satellite gatewaysystem and a single bidirectional satellite communication link systemare present or a greater number of satellite gateway systems 120 andbidirectional satellite communication links 130 are present. Forexample, for a satellite-based Internet service provider, four to eightsatellite gateway systems 120 and associated bidirectional satellitecommunication links 130 may be scattered geographically throughout alarge region, such as North America.

User communication components 160, along with user terminals 180 andsatellite antennas 170 (which can collectively be referred to as “userequipment”) may be located in a fixed geographic location or may bemobile. For example, user communication components 160-1, satelliteantenna 170-1, and user terminal 180-1 may be located at a residence ofa subscriber that has a service contract with the operator of satellitegateway systems 120. User communication components 160-1, satelliteantenna 170-1, and user terminal 180-1 may be located at a fixedlocation 190. Fixed location 190 may be a residence, a building, anoffice, a worksite, or any other fixed location at which access toInternet 152 and/or private data source 151 is desired. Usercommunication components 160-2, satellite antenna 170-2, and userterminal 180-2 may be mobile. For instance, such equipment may bepresent in an airplane, ship, vehicle, or temporary installation. Suchequipment may be present at geographic location 195; however, geographiclocation 195 may change frequently or constantly, such as if theairplane, ship, or vehicle is in motion.

Satellite antenna 170-1 may be a small dish antenna, approximately 50 to100 centimeters in diameter. Satellite antenna 170-1 may be mounted in alocation that is pointed towards relay satellite 110, which may be in ageosynchronous orbit around the earth. As such, the direction in whichsatellite antenna 170-1 is to be pointed stays constant. In someembodiments, low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO)satellites may be used in place of a geosynchronous satellite in thesystem. User communication component 160-1 refers to the hardwarenecessary to translate signals received from relay satellite 110 viasatellite antenna 170-1 into a format which user terminal 180-1 candecode. Similarly, user communication components 160-1 may encode datareceived from user terminal 180-1 into a format for transmission viasatellite antenna 170-1 to relay satellite 110. User communicationcomponents 160-1 may include a satellite communication modem. This modemmay be connected with or may have incorporated a wired or wirelessrouter to allow communication with one or more user terminals. In system100, a single user terminal, user terminal 180-1, is shown incommunication with user communication components 160-1. It should beunderstood that, in other embodiments, multiple user terminals may be incommunication with user communication components 160-1 and using system100 to access private data source 151 and/or Internet 152. User terminal180-1 may be various forms of computerized devices, such as: a desktopcomputer; a laptop computer; a smart phone; a gaming system or device; atablet computer; a music player; a smart home device; a smart sensorunit; Voice over IP (VoIP) device, or some other form of computerizeddevice that can access Internet 152 and/or private data source 151.Since user communication components and a satellite antenna can continuecommunicating with a satellite gateway system even if a user terminal isnot currently communicating with user communication components 160-1, itshould be understood that some instances of user equipment may notinclude a user terminal.

Despite being in motion or in a temporary location, user communicationcomponents 160-2, satellite antenna 170-2, and user terminal 180-2 mayfunction similarly to user communication components 160-1, satelliteantenna 170-1, and user terminal 180-1. In some instances, satelliteantenna 170-2 may either physically or electronically point its antennabeam pattern at relay satellite 110. For instance, as a flight path ofan airplane changes, satellite antenna 170-2 may need to be aimed inorder to receive data from and transmit data to relay satellite 110. Asdiscussed in relation to user terminal 180-1, only a single userterminal, user terminal 180-2, is illustrated as in communication withuser communication components 160-2 as part of system 100. It should beunderstood that in other embodiments, multiple user terminals may be incommunication with user communication components 160-2. For example, ifsuch equipment is located on an airplane, many passengers may havecomputerized devices, such as laptop computers and smart phones, whichare communicating with user communication components 160-2 for access toInternet 152 and/or private data source 151. As detailed in relationuser terminal 180-1, user terminal 180-2 may be various forms ofcomputerized devices, such as those previously listed.

While FIG. 1 illustrates only two instances of user communicationcomponents 160, two instances of satellite antennas 170, and twoinstances of user terminals 180, it should be understood that this isfor illustration purposes only. System 100 may involve hundreds orthousands of instances of satellite antennas, user equipment, and userterminals distributed across various geographic locations. Some numberof these instances may be located in fixed locations while some of theseinstances, that periodically or constantly are changing in location, maybe mobile. For the purposes of this document, it can be assumed that theposition of user equipment, the satellite antenna to which the userequipment is in communication, and the one or more user terminals incommunication with the user equipment are at the same location. While auser terminal may wirelessly communicate with user equipment from ashort distance away (e.g., within 500 ft.), it can be assumed for thepurposes of this document that the location of, for example, satelliteantenna 170-1, user communication components 160-1, and user terminal180-1 is the same location.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment 200 of a satellite gateway system andrelay satellite. Embodiment 200 illustrates a greater level of detail ofsatellite gateway system 120-1 and relay satellite 110 than is shown inFIG. 1 . Referring first to relay satellite 110, relay satellite 110 mayinclude: processing system 210; messaging engine 220; onboard predefinedbeam table 230; beam forming equipment 240; and communication hardware250. Processing system 210 may include one or more processors and mayserve to perform various forms of processing onboard relay satellite110. For instance, processing system 210 may receive various commands ofhow to electronically align (i.e., steer) one or more antennas, change aphysical alignment of an antenna, or reposition the satellite. Messagingengine 220 may serve to relay messages, such as in the form of datapackets, between satellite gateway system 120-1 and one or more userterminals that are accessible via satellite antennas. Messaging engine220 may further analyze a portion of the received message to determinehow an antenna beam should be steered for future communication with aparticular instance of user equipment. For instance, messaging engine220 may receive messages from user terminals via communication hardware250 and/or may receive messages from satellite gateway system 120-1 thatprovide beam steering data. Such beam steering data may be provided tobeam forming equipment 240, which may change electrical characteristicsof a satellite antenna, such as a phased array, that is part ofcommunication hardware 250. A phased array may consist of a number ofradiation elements whose phase and amplitude may be adjusted such thatthe superposition of the radiation pattern from the elements createsspot beams focused on specific user terminals. By various electricalcharacteristics of a satellite antenna being changed, the antenna'sradiation pattern may be altered. The resulting spot beams created bythe antenna may be moved to different locations over time.

Beam forming equipment 240 may serve to alter the electricalcharacteristics of one or more pieces of communication hardware 250 totarget the one or more satellite antennas' spot beams. Such altering ofthe antenna beam pattern for communication with user equipment mayaffect both a transmit (downlink) beam pattern and receive (uplink) beampattern. By beam forming equipment 240 altering electricalcharacteristics of communication hardware 250, both the effective sizeof a beam (e.g., wide-area spot beams having a larger diameter distancebetween 3 dB signal strength drops as compared to the signal strength atthe center of the beam, or a spot beam having a smaller distance between3 dB signal strength drops as compared to the signal strength at thecenter of the beam) and the direction in which the beam is pointed.Communication hardware 250 may include one or more satellite antennasand one or more transponders that serve to relay data between satellitegateway system 120-1 and instances of user terminals and user equipment.

In some embodiments, on-board predefined beam table 230 may be storedusing a non-transitory processor readable medium and may be accessibleby processing system 210. On-board predefined beam table 230 may storebeam steering data that define various antenna beam patterns that relateto locations of individual instances of user equipment or relate topredefined locations within a geographical area. The phase and amplitudeof the phased array elements would be used to create the desired spotbeams. For instance, onboard predefined beam table 230 may store amultitude of beam patterns that can be used to configure communicationhardware 250 such that a large number of regions within the largergeographical area can be targeted using a spot beam such that signalstrength is within 0.3 dB to 2 dB of the signal strength or gain of thecenter of the beam. Each of these beam definitions may be linked with aunique spot beam identifier within onboard predefined beam table 230.Therefore, if one or more packets of data are to be transmitted to userequipment located in a particular location, satellite gateway system120-1 may provide the spot beam identifier to relay satellite 110. Basedon the spot beam identifier, beam forming equipment 240 mayelectronically alter characteristics of communication hardware 250 suchthat the desired user equipment is targeted by the antenna beam patternfor transmitting the one or more packets to the user equipment. In someembodiments, based on location data (e.g., coordinates) received byprocessing system 210, processing system 210 may be able to calculatethe beam steering data needed to control beam forming equipment 240 andcommunication hardware 250.

In other embodiments, rather than having processing performed at relaysatellite 110, functionality of onboard predefined beam table 230 may beperformed by satellite gateway system 120-1. Satellite gateway system120-1 may provide beam steering data to relay satellite 110 thatinstructs beam forming equipment 240 how to configure an antennaradiation pattern of communication hardware 250 to target a particularpiece or set of user equipment. Satellite gateway system 120-1 mayinclude: data access engine 260; satellite message creator 270; beamsteering engine 280; account database 285; and predefined beam table290. Predefined beam table 290 may function similarly to onboardpredefined beam table 230. That is, if satellite gateway system 120-1has one or more packets of data that are to be transmitted to aparticular instance of user equipment, beam steering engine 280 mayaccess predefined beam table 290 to look up beam steering data necessaryto create a particular spot beam. This beam steering data may betransmitted to beam forming equipment 240 such that communicationhardware 250 can be configured to create the spot beam for transmittingand receiving data with the desired user equipment. In such embodiments,the processing necessary to perform lookups and store a beam table isperformed by satellite gateway system 120-1 rather than relay satellite110. In such embodiments, relay satellite 110 receives the particularbeam steering data necessary for beamforming equipment 240 to configurecommunication hardware 250 to create the desired spot beam.

In some embodiments, beam steering engine 280 may access accountdatabase 285 in order to determine a location of user equipment. Forexample, a message from the user equipment may indicate an accountidentifier or user equipment identifier. This account identifier userequipment identifier may be used to perform a lookup in account database285 to determine an address or other form of location linked with theaccount identifier or user equipment identifier. This location may bestored in the form of an address or coordinates. If stored in the formof an address, a further look up or analysis may be performed todetermine coordinates, that correspond to the address. In someembodiments, account database 285 may link account identifiers or userequipment identifiers directly with beamforming settings. Temporarylocation database 287 may be used to store the location, such as in theform of latitude and longitude coordinates, of user equipment that iseither moving or is only temporarily stationary. When a message isreceived from such an instance of user equipment, indication oflocation, such as in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates maybe received by satellite gateway system 120-1. The location, along withan account identifier or user equipment identifier, may be stored totemporary location database 287 such that a location of the userequipment is accessible for future instances when data is to be receivedor transmitted. Similar to account database 285, in some embodiments,the beam forming settings may be stored directly linked with the accountidentifier or user equipment identifier stored in temporary locationdatabase 287. In some embodiments, based on location data (e.g.,coordinates) received by beam steering engine 280, beam steering engine280 may be able to calculate the beam steering data needed to controlbeam forming equipment 240 and communication hardware 250. Thiscalculated beam steering data may be transmitted to relay satellite 110via satellite message creator 270.

Satellite message creator 270 may serve to create messages fortransmission via bidirectional satellite communication link 130-1 torelay satellite 110. Messages created by satellite message creator 270may include one or more data packets. The data transmitted as part ofsuch messages may include beam steering data and the data to be relayed.Data access engine 260 may serve to access one or more external datasources, such as Internet 152 or private data source 151. That is, dataaccess engine 260 may request and retrieve information based on receivedrequests from user terminals.

While not illustrated as part of FIG. 2 , satellite gateway system 120-1may include one or more computer server systems. Beam steering engine280, satellite message creator 270, and data access engine 260 may beimplemented using software, firmware, and/or underlying computerizedhardware. Such computer server systems may include one or more networkinterfaces, one or more processors, non-transitory computer readablestorage mediums, communication buses, user interfaces, and other formsof computerized components. It should be understood that other satellitegateway systems, such as satellite gateway system 120-2, may functionsimilarly to satellite gateway system 120-1.

FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment 300A of spot beams and a wide-areabeam being used to transmit and receive data via a relay satellite, suchas relay satellite 110. In embodiment 300A, various locations at whichsatellite antennas, user equipment, and user terminals are present areillustrated. Location group 310 illustrates multiple structures that arelocated a short distance from each other (e.g., within 1, 2, 3, or 5miles). Location group 311 illustrates a sparse group of structures thatare located a further distance apart from each other. Structure 312illustrates a structure located a large distance from other structuresthat have user equipment installed. Airplane 320 has onboard userequipment for communicating with a satellite gateway system via a relaysatellite.

Location group 310 may represent individual structures that are closeenough together that a single spot beam antenna radiation pattern can beused to transmit and receive with a high level of gain. Spot beampatterns 330 may define regions in which signal strength and gain iswithin 0.3 dB to 2 dB of the signal strength (or sensitivity) at thecenter location of the respective spot beam pattern. In someembodiments, a small decrease in signal strength and sensitivity may besmall enough that it is not necessary to individually target the userequipment at each structure. Rather, a single spot beam pattern may beused to communicate with user equipment at each structure. In someembodiments, location group 311 may represent a fewer number ofstructures than location group, but that may be close enough togetherthat a single spot beam antenna radiation pattern can be used totransmit and receive with a high level of gain. Spot beam antennapattern 330-2 may be used for transmitting to and receiving data fromuser equipment located at these structures by a relay satellite.

User equipment at structure 312 may be individually targeted with a spotbeam antenna radiation pattern 330-3 of a relay satellite. In someembodiments, targeting user equipment means a center of a spot beambeing aligned with the user equipment. For instance, center of spot beam330-3 is centered on the location of structure 312 at which userequipment is located. In some embodiments, targeting user equipmentmeans a center of the spot beam is located at a geographic locationwithin a certain distance (e.g., one mile, two miles) of the location atwhich the structure is located. In some embodiments, targeting userequipment means the user equipment experiences less than 0.3 dB to 2 dBsignal strength decrease as compared to the geographic location at acenter of the spot beam.

Airplane 320 has on-board user equipment that is moving with airplane320. As such, the location to be targeted using spot beam 330-4 isoccasionally or continually changing. Spot beam 3304 may be occasionallyretargeted such that airplane remains at or near a center of spot beam330-4.

Wide-area beam 350 may be used to transmit and receive data from alluser equipment illustrated in embodiment 300A. The edge of wide-areabeam 350 (which may be understood as a larger spot-beam) may also bedefined by a 3 dB decrease in signal strength as compared to the centerof wide-area beam 350. Multiple wide-area spot beams may be used tocover a large geographic region. While the maximum signal gain and datathroughput may be greatly decreased when an antenna radiation pattern ofrelay satellite 110 is used to produce wide-area beam 350, there may beless signal strength decrease over a wider area (hence the area ofwide-area beam being illustrated as encompassing a much greater area).While for certain periods of time, spot beams 330 may be used for highgain and high data throughput communication with small regions, duringother periods of time, wide-area beam 350 may be used to broadcastmessages to multiple instances of user equipment and may be used toreceive requests (e.g., requests for bandwidth) from instances of userequipment scattered within wide-area beam 350 or multicast data such asstreamed video.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment 300B of spot beams and a wide-areabeam being used to transmit and receive data via a relay satellite. Inembodiment 300B, rather than a single spot beam being used to targetuser equipment in location group 311, each structure receives its ownspot beam. Even though these spot beams are illustrated as overlapping,these spot beams may not be active at a same time and/or may usedifferent polarization (e.g., clockwise and counterclockwise) orfrequency. Spot beam 361 created using a particular antenna radiationpattern of an antenna of relay satellite 110 may be used fortransmission and reception of data for user equipment located atstructure 365; spot beam 362 created using a different antenna radiationpattern of the antenna of relay satellite 110 may be used fortransmission and reception of data with user equipment at structure 366.

Airplane 320 is illustrated in embodiment 300B as having moved from itslocation in embodiment 300A of FIG. 3A. A new spot beam produced by adifferent antenna radiation pattern of relay satellite 110 is produced.Spot beam 370 may be used for a period of time while airplane 320 iswithin a center region of spot beam 370. That is, spot beam 370 may notbe repositioned for every data transmission with user equipment onairplane 320, but rather may be only occasionally updated such thatairplane 320 experiences signal strength and sensitivity within 0.3 dBto 2 dB of a center of spot beam 370.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment 400 of data packet 410 and downlinkframe 420 that may be used to transmit data via wide-area and spot beamsto user equipment via a relay satellite. Downlink frame 420 represents aseries of data packets that are transmitted to a relay satellite, suchas relay satellite 110, by a satellite gateway system, such as satellitegateway system 120-1. Downlink frame 420 may include a number of datapackets that are part of broadcast phase 421 and a number of datapackets that are part of transmit focus phase 423. A relay satellite maytransmit each packet that is part of broadcast phase 421 to manyinstances of user equipment using a wide-area beam, such as wide-areabeam 350. These data packets may include network or “housekeeping” datathat is used by some or all instances of user equipment. Such data caninclude network settings, timing data, or other data that is used bymultiple or all instances of user equipment. In some embodiments, lowbandwidth data that needs to be transmitted to individual user equipmentmay be transmitted during broadcast phase 421, such as time slotassignments for when instances of user equipment are transmitting datato the relay satellite. During broadcast phase 421, the relay satellitemay be caused to be configured to transmit the wide-area beam. Thiswide-area beam may have a relatively low data rate, but may exhibit amore consistent signal strength over a larger geographic region than aspot beam. Following a set portion of downlink frame being used forbroadcast phase 421, the remainder of downlink frame 420 may be devotedto transmit focus phase 423.

During transmit focus phase 423, each instance of user equipment may belistening for data, as the individual user equipment instances may nothave information that indicates if or when during transmit focus phase423 one or more data packets are to be addressed to the specificinstance of user equipment. Data packet 410 illustrates an example of asingle data packet that may be part of downlink frame 420 duringtransmit focus phase 423. In some embodiments, data packet 410 mayoccupy a single slot 422 within downlink frame 420, as illustrated;alternatively, a data packet may occupy two or more slots withindownlink frame 420.

Data packet 410 may include: unique word 411; beam parameter header 412;and user packet data 413. Unique word 411 may be used for timingpurposes. Unique word 411 may represent a unique sequence of binary datathat can be identified by the relay satellite and/or user equipment fortiming purposes to ensure that data that is part of beam parameterheader 412 and user packet data 413 are received properly. Unique word411 may be a number that can be easily distinguished from other binarysequences that may be present within downlink frame 420. Beam parameterheader 412 may include beam steering data that instructs beam formingequipment at the relay satellite how to configure communication hardware250. In some embodiments, the beam steering data may include a beamidentifier that can be used to perform a lookup in an on-boardpredefined beam table of the relay satellite to determine beam steeringdata. In other embodiments, the beam parameter header 412 may includethe beam steering data.

User packet data 413 may be transmitted using the spot beam antennaradiation pattern determined based on the beam steering data obtainedfrom beam parameter header 412. User packet data 413 may include anaddress that identifies the user equipment for which the data isaddressed and may include a payload of data. In some embodiments, whenthe data packet is transmitted by the relay server, beam parameterheader 412 may be removed since this data is needed only by the relaysatellite. In other embodiments, beam parameter header 412 may be leftin as part of data packet 410.

Each downlink frame 420 may be part of a larger super frame thatincludes multiple downlink frames. Each frame within the super frame maybe assigned a unique identifier such that the frame can be distinguishedfrom other frames within the super frame. The use of a super frame mayhelp avoid timing errors due to the relatively large delay incommunicating using a geosynchronous satellite.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment 500 of data packet 520 and uplink frame510 that may be used to receive and relay data from user equipment via arelay satellite to a satellite gateway using wide-area and spot beamselectivity. Uplink frame 510 represents a time division multiple access(TDMA) arrangement that allows transmission to a relay satellite, suchas relay satellite 110, by instances of user equipment. Uplink frame 510may include multiple parts, including location phase 511 and receivefocus phase 512.

During location phase 511, the relay satellite may form a receive beamby adjusting electrical characteristics of the satellite antenna beingused to receive data such that the relay satellite can receive a lowbandwidth of data over a wide-area, such as represented by wide-areabeam 350 of FIG. 3A. During this time period, requests for uplinkbandwidth (which can be referred to as a “reservation request”) may bereceived from various instances of user equipment by the relaysatellite. Requests transmitted during location phase 511 from instancesof user equipment may include: 1) an indication of location; 2) anidentifier of the user equipment (e.g., a MAC address, user accountidentifier, etc.); and 3) a request for an amount of bandwidth.

Since individual instances of user equipment can be unaware of whenother instances of user equipment are going to transmit during locationphase 511, collisions between data transmissions from user equipment tothe relay satellite are possible. Various access techniques may be usedto overcome these potential collisions for the location phase 511 ofuplink frame 510. One possible technique that may be used is ALOHA. InALOHA, any user equipment can transmit at any point during locationphase 511. If no other user equipment transmits during this time, themessage will be received by the relay satellite. If another instance ofuser equipment tries to transmit during this time, a collision willoccur and both instances of user equipment will need to resend theirrespective messages. To resend, each instance of user equipment may waita different amount of time and then attempt a resend. In a slotted ALOHA(S-ALOHA) arrangement, user equipment may only be permitted to begintransmitting a message at the beginning of defined timeslots withinlocation phase 511. This arrangement may decrease a number ofcollisions.

In some embodiments, a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) communicationtechnique may be used for the location phase 511 of uplink frame 510. InSCMA, a defined set of codes (possibly referred to as a “codebook”) maybe transmitted by user equipment, with each code represented as analphanumeric code that includes a greater number of bits. Thisarrangement may allow for a situation in which a collision betweenmultiple transmitting user equipment occurs; however, the relaysatellite or satellite gateway system is able to determine the code sentby each instance of user equipment since each code is sent using alonger alphanumeric code that is significantly different from otheralphanumeric codes used for other defined codes in the defined set ofcodes. That is, the satellite gateway system or the relay satellite canmake a likely guess as to the intended codes from the multipletransmissions from user equipment that have collided.

In some embodiments, a code division multiple access (CDMA)communication technique may be used for the location phase 511 of uplinkframe 510. In a CDMA arrangement, rather than having a fixed set ofcodes or codebook, the codes are computed based on a pre-establishedalgorithm by the user equipment, relay satellite, and/or satellitegateway system. Similar to SCMA, this arrangement can allow for collidedmessages to be successfully decoded by the satellite gateway system orrelay satellite. Since no fixed set of codes is used, the amount ofprocessing necessary to perform a CDMA communication technique may begreater than in a SCMA arrangement.

During receive focus phase 512, certain time slots may be assigned toindividual instances of user equipment. An instance of user equipmentmay have previously received a message from the relay satellite. Thismessage may originate from the relay satellite or may be relayed by therelay satellite from a satellite gateway system. This message may informthe user equipment when one or more time slots occur during which therelay satellite will be targeting a receive spot beam on the userequipment. This message to the user equipment may have been transmittedduring a previous downlink frame, such as during broadcast phase 421 orduring transmit focus phase 423 when the spot beam is targeted on thecorresponding instance of user equipment.

During receive focus phase 512, each timeslot may be assigned to aparticular instance of user equipment. During the user equipment'sassigned time slot, the user equipment may transmit one or more datapackets while the relay satellite is targeting the user equipment with areceive spot beam. This receive spot beam may be similar to a spot beamsuch as spot beam 330-3—allowing for the user equipment to transmit at ahigh data rate to the relay satellite while the receive spot beam istargeted on the user equipment.

Data packet 520 may be transmitted by an instance of user equipmentduring time slot 513. Data packet 520 may include: unique word 521, userlocation data 522, and user packet data 523. Unique word 521 may be usedfor timing purposes. Unique word 521 may represent a unique sequence ofbinary data that can be identified by the relay satellite and/or userequipment for timing purposes to ensure that data that is part of userlocation data 522 and user packet data 523 are received properly. Uniqueword 521 may be a number that can be easily distinguished from otherbinary sequences that may be present within uplink frame 510. Userlocation data 522 may be data that indicates the current location of theuser equipment. For stationary user equipment, user location data 522may be an account identifier or a user equipment identifier. For bothstationary user equipment or mobile user equipment, user location data522 may be latitude and longitude coordinates or some other form ofcoordinates that can be used to determine the precise location of theuser equipment. User packet data 523 may represent the data that theuser equipment intends to transmit to the satellite gateway system, suchas a request for a webpage from the Internet or an upload of a file.

Each uplink frame 510 may be part of a larger uplink super frame thatincludes multiple uplink frames. Each uplink frame within the uplinksuper frame may be assigned a unique identifier such that the uplinkframe can be distinguished from other frames within the super frame. Theuse of an uplink super frame may help avoid timing errors due to therelatively large delay in communicating using a geosynchronoussatellite.

It should be understood that the ordering and relative length of variousportions of the data packets and frames is merely exemplary. Similarly,the ordering and duration of the broadcast phase, transmit focus phase,location phase, and receive focus phase may be altered.

Various methods may be performed using the embodiments detailed inrelation to FIGS. 1-5 . FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method 600for optimizing data transmission from a relay satellite to a userterminal. Each block of method 600 may be performed using one or moresatellite gateway systems, one or more bidirectional satellitecommunication links, one or more relay satellites, and one or moreinstances of user equipment (which each instance can include a satelliteantenna, satellite communication modem, router, and/or one or more userterminals).

At block 610, a message that is indicative of a current location of theuser terminal may be received by a relay satellite and processed locallyor may be received by the relay satellite and relayed to a ground-basedsatellite gateway system. Therefore, at block 610, the message includingthe current location of the user equipment may be received by thesatellite gateway system. The current location may be indicated in themessage in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates, a userequipment identifier, or an account identifier. Some other form ofunique identifier may also be used that can be used to look up alocation of the user equipment in a database. Such a lookup may only bepossible if the user equipment is not expected to move. For situationsin which the user equipment may constantly or occasionally be changinglocation, the message may include position coordinates. The message thatis received by the relay satellite and, possibly, the satellite gatewaysystem may be in the form of data packet 520. Such a data packet may betransmitted during location phase 511 (when a wide-area receive beam ofthe relay satellite is active) of an uplink frame or may be transmittedduring receive focus phase 512 during a time slot that has previouslybeen assigned to the user equipment that transmitted the message. Themessage received at block 610 may also request data be retrieved from asource, such as the Internet or a private data source. For instance, themessage received at block 610 may request a URL.

At block 620, the data requested to be retrieved at block 610 may beobtained, such as from the Internet or from a private data source. Thismay involve the satellite gateway system accessing the Internet or theprivate data source to obtain the requested data.

At block 630, data may be broadcast to multiple instances of userequipment using a wide area beam. This wide-area beam may have a lowdata bandwidth but may be effectively received by user equipmentscattered over a large geographic region. Referring to downlink frame420, such broadcast data may be transmitted during broadcast phase 221.For instance, this broadcast data may be used to assign user equipmentwith particular uplink timeslots for a future uplink frame.

For data to be transmitted to the user terminal from which the requestto retrieve data was received at block 610, the satellite gateway systemor the relay satellite may determine beam steering data at block 640based on the current location of the user terminal that was indicated inthe message of block 610. As previously detailed, determining beamsteering data may include: 1) performing a look-up in a database ortable of locations stored by the satellite gateway system or relaysatellite based on a user equipment identifier or an account identifier;2) calculating beam steering data based on user equipment locationcoordinates or location by the satellite gateway system or relaysatellite; and/or 3) performing a look-up in a database or table of beamsteering data based on coordinates, an address, a user equipmentidentifier, or an account identifier by the satellite gateway system orrelay satellite.

At block 650, if the beam steering data was determined at the satellitegateway system, a downlink message may be transmitted to the relaysatellite that includes user packet data to be transmitted to the userequipment and beam steering data used to define a spot to target theuser equipment to receive the downlink message. This user equipment maybe the same user equipment from which the message was received at block610 and included in the current location of the user equipment. If thebeam steering data was determined at the relay satellite, the beamsteering data may be stored locally by the relay satellite until theuser packet data is to be transmitted to the user equipment.

At block 660, the antenna radiation beam pattern of the satellite may beset to target a downlink spot beam on the current location of the userequipment, using the received beam steering data. Referring to downlinkframe 420, this may occur during transmit focus phase 423 for one ormore timeslots of data packets. Block 660 may include beamformingequipment 240 of relay satellite 110 altering electronic configurationof communication hardware 250 based on the beam steering data receivedor otherwise obtained at block 650. As previously detailed, targetingthe antenna radiation beam pattern of the satellite may be done so thatthe user equipment is at the center or near the center of the spot beamon the surface of the earth. In other embodiments, targeting the antennaradiation beam pattern of the satellite to create the spot beam may bedone so that the user equipment is within a predefined distance of thecenter of the spot beam on the surface of the earth. In otherembodiments, targeting the antenna radiation beam pattern of thesatellite to create the spot beam may be done so that the user equipmentreceives within 0.5 dB to 2 dB of the signal strength of the center ofthe spot beam.

At block 670, one or more packets, which may be in the form of datapacket 410, may be transmitted to the user equipment by the relaysatellite using the downlink spot beam formed at block 660. In someembodiments, if a beam parameter header 412 was present when the datapacket was transmitted to the relay server from the satellite gatewaysystem, beam parameter header 412 may be removed. Other data packets maybe targeted to other user equipment using different antenna radiationbeam patterns defined by corresponding beam steering data. Therefore,within a single downlink frame, different data packets may be targetedto different instances of user equipment using different spot beams.Following block 670, the user equipment may receive and process theretrieved data.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a method 700 for optimizing datatransmission to a relay satellite from a user terminal. Each block ofmethod 700 may be performed using one or more satellite gateway systems,one or more bidirectional satellite communication links, one or morerelay satellites, and one or more instances of user equipment (whicheach instance can include a satellite antenna, satellite communicationmodem, router, and/or one or more user terminals). At block 710, duringa first designated period of time, a relay satellite may listen forrequest messages, using a wide-area receive beam that has been createdusing a receive beam former that adjusts the antenna radiation patternof an antenna of the satellite. This first designated period of time mayoccur during a location phase of an uplink frame, such as location phase511 of uplink frame 510. Collisions between multiple communications fromdifferent instances of user equipment may be handled as previouslydetailed in relation to embodiment 500.

At block 720, a request message may be received from an instance of userequipment that requests permission to transmit data and indicates acurrent location of the user terminal. The request message of block 720may refer to the same request message as block 610 of method 600. Aswith block 710, block 720 may occur during the location phase of anuplink frame, such as location phase 511 of uplink frame 510. Therequest for the permission to transmit data may include a request for acertain amount of bandwidth. That is, the user equipment may indicate anamount of data that is to be transmitted to the satellite gateway systemvia the relay satellite.

At least partially in response to the request for permission to transmitdata, the satellite gateway system or the relay satellite may assign atime slot to the user equipment to transmit data at block 730. In someembodiments, a receive time plan generator system is incorporated aspart of the satellite gateway system that is responsible for assigningtimeslots for user equipment to transmit data to the relay satellite.Referring to uplink frame 510, this may include one or more timeslotswithin receive focus phase 512 of an uplink frame, which may be a lateruplink frame from the uplink frame used for communication at block 720.That is, a request for bandwidth may be transmitted in the first uplinkframe, but one or more timeslots may not be assigned until a second,later uplink frame by the satellite gateway system or the relaysatellite.

At block 740, an indication of the timeslot assigned to the userequipment may be transmitted by the satellite gateway system to the userequipment via the relay satellite, or may be determined by the relaysatellite and transmitted directly to the user equipment.

When the assigned timeslot occurs at block 750, a receive spot beam maybe formed and targeted on the user equipment. Based on the location ofthe user equipment, the satellite gateway system may provide beamsteering data to the relay satellite or the relay satellite maydetermine such beamforming data on its own. Determining beam steeringdata may include: 1) performing a look-up in a database or table oflocations stored by the satellite gateway system or relay satellitebased on a user equipment identifier or an account identifier; 2)calculating beam steering data based on user equipment locationcoordinates or location by the satellite gateway system or relaysatellite; and/or 3) performing a look-up in a database or table of beamsteering data based on coordinates, an address, a user equipmentidentifier, or an account identifier by the satellite gateway system orrelay satellite.

At block 760, data may be received by the relay satellite using thetargeted receive spot beam during the assigned timeslot. Since multipletimeslots are present within an uplink frame, multiple targeted receivespot beams may be targeted at different user equipment during differentassigned timeslots such that each of the instances of user equipment canobtain the high-bandwidth available via a high-frequency andhigh-bandwidth targeted spot beam.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousconfigurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods may be performed in an order different from that described,and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined. Also,features described with respect to certain configurations may becombined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elementsof the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also,technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and donot limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example configurations (including implementations).However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details.For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, andtechniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoidobscuring the configurations. This description provides exampleconfigurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, orconfigurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of theconfigurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enablingdescription for implementing described techniques. Various changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted asa flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe theoperations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps notincluded in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium.Processors may perform the described tasks.

Having described several example configurations, various modifications,alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departingfrom the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements maybe components of a larger system, wherein other rules may takeprecedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention.Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after theabove elements are considered.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for optimizing uplink data transmissionsto a satellite from user equipment (UE), the method comprising:creating, by the satellite, for location phases of uplink frames, awide-area beam to receive messages from a plurality of UE across ageographic region by adjusting electrical characteristics of a satelliteantenna of the satellite; receiving, by the satellite, during thelocation phases of the uplink frames, via the satellite antenna, anuplink bandwidth request from a UE of the plurality of UE; targeting, bythe satellite, for a time slot, a spot beam for the UE by adjusting theelectrical characteristics of the satellite antenna of the satellite inresponse to the UE being scheduled for the time slot during a receivefocus stage of an uplink frame; while the spot beam is targeted for theUE, receiving, by the satellite, a data packet from the UE, wherein: thespot beam permits a higher data transmission rate from the UE to thesatellite than the wide-area beam; and transmitting, by the satellite,the data packet to a satellite gateway.
 2. The method for optimizinguplink data transmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 1,wherein each uplink frame comprises a location phase and a receive focusphase.
 3. The method for optimizing uplink data transmissions to thesatellite from the UE of claim 2, wherein during the receive focus phaseof each uplink frame, a plurality of spot beams are targeted ondifferent geographic locations for different UE of the plurality of UE.4. The method for optimizing uplink data transmissions to the satellitefrom the UE of claim 1, wherein the data packet received by thesatellite from the UE comprises: a unique word; location data for theUE; and user packet data.
 5. The method for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 1, furthercomprising: scheduling the UE for the time slot during the receive focusstage of the uplink frame.
 6. The method for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting, by the satellite gateway, beam steering datainstructing the satellite to target up-stream focus on a currentlocation of the UE such that up-stream focus is centered on the currentlocation of the UE, wherein: scheduling the UE for the time slot isperformed by the satellite gateway.
 7. The method for optimizing uplinkdata transmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting, by the satellite gateway, beam steering datainstructing the satellite to target up-stream focus for the UE such thatup-stream focus is centered within a predefined distance of a currentlocation of the UE, wherein: scheduling the UE for the time slot isperformed by the satellite gateway.
 8. The method for optimizing uplinkdata transmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 4, wherein thelocation data for the user equipment comprises an account number linkedwith the user equipment.
 9. The method for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 4, wherein thelocation data for the user equipment comprises a latitude value and alongitude value.
 10. The method for optimizing uplink data transmissionsto the satellite from the UE of claim 1, further comprising: storing, bythe satellite, a lookup table that maps a plurality of spot beamidentifiers to a corresponding plurality of spot beam target locations,wherein: beam steering data received from the satellite gatewaycomprises a spot beam identifier; and targeting, by the satellite, forthe time slot, the spot beam for the UE by adjusting the electricalcharacteristics of the satellite antenna of the satellite furthercomprises: performing, by the satellite, a lookup in the lookup tablebased on received beam steering data.
 11. The method for optimizinguplink data transmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 1,wherein a frequency of an uplink transmission from the user equipment is30 GHz or greater.
 12. A system for optimizing uplink data transmissionsto a satellite from user equipment (UE), the system comprising: thesatellite, comprising an antenna, the satellite configured to: createfor location phases of uplink frames, a wide-area beam to receivemessages from a plurality of UE across a geographic region by adjustingelectrical characteristics of a satellite antenna of the satellite;receive, during the location phases of the uplink frames, via thesatellite antenna, an uplink bandwidth request from a UE of theplurality of UE; target, for a time slot, a spot beam for the UE byadjusting the electrical characteristics of the satellite antenna of thesatellite in response to the UE being scheduled for the time slot duringa receive focus stage of an uplink frame; while the spot beam istargeted for the UE, receive, a data packet from the UE, wherein: thespot beam permits a higher data transmission rate from the UE to thesatellite than the wide-area beam; and transmit the data packet to asatellite gateway.
 13. The system for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 12, wherein eachuplink frame comprises a location phase and a receive focus phase. 14.The system for optimizing uplink data transmissions to the satellitefrom the UE of claim 12, wherein the data packet received by thesatellite from the UE comprises: a unique word; location data for theUE; and user packet data.
 15. The system for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 12, furthercomprising the satellite gateway, wherein the satellite gateway isconfigured to: schedule the UE for the time slot during the receivefocus stage of the uplink frame.
 16. The system for optimizing uplinkdata transmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 15, wherein thesatellite gateway is further configured to: transmit beam steering datainstructing the satellite to target up-stream focus on a currentlocation of the UE such that up-stream focus is centered on the currentlocation of the UE.
 17. The system for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 16, wherein thesatellite gateway is further configured to: transmit beam steering datainstructing the satellite to target up-stream focus for the UE such thatup-stream focus is centered within a predefined distance of the currentlocation of the UE.
 18. The system for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 14, wherein thelocation data for the user equipment comprises a latitude value and alongitude value.
 19. The system for optimizing uplink data transmissionsto the satellite from the UE of claim 12, wherein the satellite furthercomprises a storage medium and the satellite is further configured to:store a lookup table that maps a plurality of spot beam identifiers to acorresponding plurality of spot beam target locations, wherein: beamsteering data received from the satellite gateway comprises a spot beamidentifier; and targeting, by the satellite, for the time slot, the spotbeam for the UE by adjusting the electrical characteristics of thesatellite antenna of the satellite further comprises the satellite beingconfigured to: perform a lookup in the lookup table based on receivedbeam steering data.
 20. The system for optimizing uplink datatransmissions to the satellite from the UE of claim 12, furthercomprising the UE, wherein the UE is installed within an airplane.